National Portrait Gallery show explores nature of celebrity

WASHINGTON- In the age of selfies and social media, the idea of what makes a celebrity has expanded far beyond the Hollywood icons of the past. Now scientists, technology geeks, writers and YouTube stars achieve fame alongside athletes and entertainers.

Curators at the National Portrait Gallery have examined how celebrity images are cultivated and how they've evolved for the new exhibition "Eye Pop: The Celebrity Gaze," opening Friday.

Dozens of new paintings, photographs, sculptures and digital portraits by leading artists were acquired by the portrait gallery in recent years. Curators narrowed the exhibition to 54 influential figures. Many of the portraits are being shown for the first time.

Although the idea of celebrity has expanded, images of Brad Pitt, Barbra Streisand and Katy Perry still made the cut as well.